COLEOPTERA 143
EROTYLID.ZE.
Antennae eleven-jointed, with three- or four-jointed club,
inserted in front of or between the eyes. Tarsi five-jointed,
apparently four-jointed in some forms, the basal three broad
and pubescent. Elytra covering abdomen, five free sternites.
A large family, occurring in both temperate and tropical
regions, but the majority of its members inhabiting the latter
zone.
They are subject to much, variation in size and form and also
of colour. Those found in temperate regions are usually small,
more or less oblong and without much distinctive colouring;
but the tropical species are larger, with more diversity of
form, some being nearly round and others elongate, and are
often much more highly coloured, especially in metallic blues
and greens.
The head is of moderate size, but varies somewhat in shape.
The antennae, which have a three or four-jointed club, are
placed just in front of or between the eyes. The thorax in
many cases has the sides slightly raised. The elytra com-
pletely cover the abdomen. There are five free ventral
segments. The legs are of moderate length, with five-jointed
tarsi; the fourth is often very small and can easily be
overlooked.
The larvae of a few species are known: that of Languria
mozardi is elongate, yellow of colour, with an anal appendage
and two curved, spiny cerci. The legs are fairly long. The
larvae of the sub-family Erotylince are somewhat broader and
not always furnished with cerci and an anal appendage. The
legs are very short.
The adults and larvae of the sub-family Languriince frequent
low bushes and plants : the larvae in many cases living in the
stems. The Erotylince are more confined to forest regions,
where they live in fungus growths on timber. The former of
these sub-families has teen listed Iby Fowler (Gen. Ins. Fasc.
78, 1908) and the latter by Kuhnt (Gen. Ins. Fasc. 88, 1909).
Gorham has worked on some of the Indian species (Ann.
Soc. Ent. Beige. 1895 and 1903). The species are listed in the
Berlin Catalogue.
There are only six British species.